Portland, Oregon: Best Beer Towns

This longtime craft-brewing powerhouse continues to dominate the numbers board, with 52 breweries inside the city limits – more breweries than any other city in the world. For the beer drinker, that means real range. Portland's a place where you can hole up in a British-style pub with an extraordinary tap list or visit one of the country's largest craft brewers for a taste of beers made with experimental hops.

Best Brews, Breweries, and BarsOne of the city's original craft breweries, Widmer Brothers Brewing, remains a stalwart. The brewpub serves impressive one-offs made from experimental hops (varieties grown especially for Widmer) alongside the iconic Hefeweizen, which is freshest here. Up the street, the celestial-themed Ecliptic Brewery is the city's newest destination brewery. Beers, including the Filament Winter IPA, change according to the old-world solstice calendar.

Cascade Barrel Brewing House taps its own sour ales, some straight from the barrel. Try the Sang Noir, a double red aged in pinot and whiskey barrels blended with cherries. Find more sours and Belgian-inspired beers at the casual taproom inside The Commons Brewery.

The British-inspired Horse Brass Pub is a world-class watering hole that feels British, but revolves around a tap list of stellar Pacific Northwest beers.